Media, Entertainment & Sports
Cohen & Gresser’s Media, Entertainment & Sports practice advises businesses, investors, and talent operating in fast-moving, content-driven industries where creativity, technology, and commerce converge. We help clients manage risk, seize opportunities, and navigate legal and regulatory challenges that can have an immediate impact on operations, reputation, and enterprise value.
Our team advises across the full media and entertainment ecosystem, including film and television, music, digital and social platforms, publishing, live entertainment, video games, and sports. By integrating corporate, litigation, intellectual property, and employment expertise, we provide coordinated counsel on complex transactions, content and talent matters, and high-stakes disputes, supporting clients at every stage of growth and transformation.
M&A and Private Capital Transactions
Our Corporate team advises media, entertainment, and technology clients on complex strategic transactions that shape the competitive landscape. We guide investors, buyers, sellers, founders, and other key stakeholders through domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, investments, divestitures, governance matters, and antitrust considerations. With deep experience at the intersection of entertainment and technology, we help clients execute transformative deals and navigate regulatory scrutiny.
Litigation & Arbitration
Our Litigation & Arbitration team represents clients in their most critical disputes across the media, entertainment, and sports sectors. We handle high-stakes matters involving antitrust, contract disputes, intellectual property claims, class actions, privacy, defamation, employment issues, and bankruptcy-related litigation. Our lawyers regularly appear in federal and state courts nationwide, as well as in arbitrations, regulatory investigations, and cross-border proceedings. We bring strategic insight, deep industry knowledge, and a track record of success in resolving complex conflicts that directly impact clients’ operations, brands, and business models.
Employment
Our Employment practice supports entertainment and media clients in managing talent relationships, navigating workplace disputes, and addressing challenges involving mobility, restrictive covenants, compensation structures, and workforce transitions. We understand the unique dynamics of creative industries—where key talent, intellectual capital, and public reputation often intersect—and advise clients on both counseling and litigation involving employees, executives, and performers.
Intellectual Property
Our Intellectual Property practice protects the creative assets and technological innovations that drive the media and entertainment ecosystem. We represent investors, production companies, record labels, content creators, digital platforms, and technology developers in matters involving copyright, trademark, licensing, royalties, technology rights, piracy, and complex IP litigation. We help clients safeguard their brands, maximize the value of their IP portfolios, and navigate rapidly evolving distribution and content‑creation models
Key Contacts
All Attorneys
Transactions
Represented a private investment firm in connection with its exit from a French digital media company, advising on cross-border structuring and execution.
Represented 22D Music Group in the acquisition of a stake in an independent French music publisher.
Represented IVI, an online video streaming platform, in a US$250 million funding round.
Represented a French-American media conglomerate in content licensing transactions with sports and entertainment organizations across digital, telecom, and cable platforms.
Represented cable and telecommunications providers in VoIP, IPTV, and related network transactions.
Represented a private equity consortium in the leveraged acquisition of radio station groups, including FCC licensing and structuring.
Represented cable operators in acquisitions and divestitures of regional systems and subscriber blocs.
Represented sovereign wealth funds in forming investment vehicles for U.S. media and technology investments, including regulatory structuring.
Represented a private equity/trust syndicate in investments in Formula One racing circuit associations.
Disputes
Representing a prominent French winemaker and affiliated entities in California state court and related U.S. and European proceedings arising from post-celebrity divorce business disputes involving intellectual property, jurisdictional issues, and business tort claims.
Represented a former professional wrestler and public figure in connection with bankruptcy proceedings involving a major online media company, including related litigation issues.
Represented acclaimed producers in an audit dispute with a major entertainment company.
Represented superstar recording artists in copyright and trademark litigation.
Represented a prominent music publisher in a dispute arising from a multi-million-dollar catalog acquisition agreement.
Employment & Reputation
Represented a founder and public-facing hairstylist following termination from a globally recognized company he co-founded, securing a severance package including equity compensation, and narrowed restrictive covenants.
Represented a sports and entertainment marketing company in defending employment-related claims alleging wrongful termination, retaliation, disability discrimination, and sexual harassment.
Represented an entertainment studio in connection with potential employment-related claims, including crisis communications and reputational risk management.
Representing a global music publishing and record company in connection with employment matters.
Representing a boutique creative and talent agency in connection with employment matters.
Representation of a TV channel in connection with employment matters.
Representing a group specializing in the creation and production of content, particularly TV programs and advertisements, in connection with employment matters.
Intellectual Property
Represented a founder and public-facing hairstylist following termination from a globally recognized company he co-founded, securing significant limitations on a perpetual license governing use of his name, image, and likeness.
Represented a health and wellness services company in negotiating professional services agreements with luxury residential properties in Manhattan, including terms governing the use and commercialization of brand and related intellectual property.
Key Contacts